SOCIAL SERVICES TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COUNCIL

                        MINUTES                 September 4, 2019

Present              Voting Attendees:

Ted Ceasar – Chair                   Consumer

Michael Hack – Vice Chair       Consumer

Victory Torres                          Imperial Valley College

Oreda Chin                              Area Agency on Aging

Sarah M. Enz                            Area Agency on Aging/Public Administrator

Mitzi Perez                               ARC-Imperial Valley

Lorena Arambula                     San Diego Regional Center (SDRC)

Raul Cordova                           Work Training Center (WTC)

Debora Garcia                          Imperial County Public Authority/IHSS

Alejandra Rodriguez                 Imperial County Public Health

Kathi Williams                         CTSA– ICTC

Maricela Galarza                      CTSA–ICTC

                        Non-Voting Attendees:            

                        David Salgado                          Southern California Association of Government (SCAG)

Karla Aguilar                           IVT/IVT Access/IVT Ride/IVT MedTrans

                          Karla Pacheco                          IVT/IVT Access/IVT Ride/IVT MedTrans

                        Jose Guillen                             IVT/IVT Access/IVT Ride/IVT MedTrans

1.       Mr. Ceasar called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m.  A quorum was present. Introductions were

made.

2.       Minutes adopted for June 5, 2019 (Hack, Cordova), Motion Carried.

3.       A presentation was made by Mr. Aguirre to review SSTAC’s purpose, members' roles, and upcoming transit activities for the year. (Attached)

4.       Reappointment of voting positions:

Mr. Ceasar explained to SSTAC members that 3 voting positions are set to expire, which includes;

-          2 positions for Category 2, Service providers for Seniors, include transit provider if exists.

-          1 position for Category 3, Service providers for the disabled, include transit provider if exists.

Mr. Ceasar asked if the agencies that are currently in the voting position would like to continue serving as a voting member.

-          Ms. Enz accepted to continue serving as a SSTAC voting member for another 3 year period, a representative for the Area Agency on Aging/Imperial County Public Administrator.

-          Mr. Cordova accepted to continue serving as a SSTAC voting member for another 3 year period, a representative for the Work Training Center (WTC).

-          Ms. Perez accepted to continue serving as a SSTAC voting member for another 3 year period, a representative for Imperial Valley ARC.

(Garcia, Torres), Motion Carried.

Mr. Ceasar mentioned that Category 2, Service providers for Seniors, include transit provider if exists, alternative voting positions are vacant if any agency within the category is interested. Anyone interested may be added at any time, just inform ICTC staff.

-          Ms. Garcia mentioned that she will reach out to Adult Protective Services.

5.       Installation of Officers:

-          Mr. Ceasar stated that he has served as SSTAC chair for the past 2-3 years and will not continue moving forward. He will continue to be a SSTAC voting member under Category 1, potential transit user 60+.

-          Mr. Cesar asked if there is any volunteers or nominations for SSTAC Chairperson.

·         Mr. Torres, a representative from Imperial Valley College was nominated.

Ø  Mr. Torres accepted to be the new SSTAC Chairperson.

·         Mr. Hack, a representative for potential transit users, with a disability was nominated.

Ø  Mr. Hack accepted to continue as Vice SSTAC Chairperson.

(Garcia, Perez), Motion Carried.

6.       CTSA Reports:            

Ms. Galarza had the following updates:

-          IVT Access service had 45 certifications and 3 recertifications during the summer months.

-     There was an average of 3-4 sign ups per week for the IVT Ride service during the summer              

       months.

-          The Mobility Management staff has completed and submitted the FTA 5310 grant  to continue funding for the Mobility Management Program. The turnover for the application is expected to be a few months.

-          IVT Ride El Centro service expanded to Heber, beginning July 1st, Mobility Management staff held 4 days of signups in the City of Heber. Locations included the Office of Emergency Services and the Community Center. If Heber residents want to register for IVT Ride service, they will need to come to ICTC office. Free transportation for the day they come to register can be provided for those who don’t have other means of transportation.

-          IVT Ride Calexico sign-ups were conducted at the Calexico Community Center, for two days.

-          MMP staff attended the Assistive Technology & Resource Fair event, promoting all services.

-          MMP staff attended the IVC 411 2 day event, promoting IVT and IVT Access services to students.

-          IVT Ride signups were conducted at the Valley Conveslcent Center.

Mr. Aguirre had the following updates:

-          Mr. Gomez is not present at the SSTAC meeting due to attending a St. Louis Roundtable meeting. This helps ICTC keep informed with new regulations, ideas for the management of vehicles, formal plans, etc.

-          The Fare Analysis is ongoing. Consultants are currently outreaching to any agencies that would like to give their input. ICTC has gathered data requested by the consultants and is currently being reviewed. Agencies are also free to reach out to consultants to provide input.

-          Imperial Terminal is completed and in use.

-          The AVL project is currently close to finalizing and is expected to be implemented very soon. There are plans to conduct outreach and training for the new technology change.

·         Mr. Torres asked if the AVL system will informs passengers of capacity within the bus.

Ø  Mr. Aguirre stated that it will not. It will only inform the passenger about the location of the bus.

Ms. Williams had the following announcements:

-          ICTC has finished and executed all 5 transit service contracts for a period of 5 years.

-          Ms. Williams announced her retirement to SSTAC members. She explained that this would be her last meeting and she will be leaving by the end of September. Ms. Williams stated that Mr. Aguirre has been taking over duties and now will be the primary contact for anything referencing to transit. 

7.       Transit Operator Reports:

-          Imperial Valley Transit: Mr. Guillen reported the following:

o   There is construction on the East of Heber but has no effect on the fixed route.

o   There is construction on Wake & 4th Ave., but has no effect on the fixed route.

o   The construction on La Boucherie ended, therefore the road is now open again. This allows our fixed route to continue its normal route.

o   Services are running well with no issues to report.

o   In Brawley, there is also construction occurring, but it has not obstructed the route for the Gold line or fixed-route service.

-          IVT Access: Ms. Pacheco reported the following:

o   The service is running good and it has been busy.

o   There is an average of about 2500 passengers per month, with 4-500 on average being wheelchair passengers.

o   The late cancellations have dropped.

o   Non-ADA passengers also dropped

o   The numbers for Non-ADA is significantly up because it refers to people that are going through the ADA certification process.

o   Staff attempts not to deny service to any Non-ADA passengers, thus accommodating them to other dates and times available.

-          IVT Ride: Ms. Aguilar reported the following:

o   IVT Ride service in El Centro is very high, therefore its been very busy.

o   IVT Ride Calexico also increase passenger count from April through June.

o   IVT Ride Heber service started on July 1st, providing Heber passengers the ability to be transported to El Centro and Imperial. There are a total of 9 people that use the service to nutrition and about 9 people use it to go to El Centro.

o   IVT Ride Calexico sign-ups have been conducted and future dates are being looked at to conduct more, in different locations.

o   IVT Ride West shores go to the Coachella area, its furthest destination is the Eisenhower Medical Center. IVT Ride Service is provided in West shore area on Tuesdays’ and Thursdays’. Tuesdays’ destination was originally only for Brawley area, but now alternates with Coachella, thus one Tuesday it goes to Brawley area and the other Tuesday goes to the Coachella area. Passenger count has been low, but are looking to conduct more outreach.

·         Mr. Aguirre announced that there is a scheduled outreach in the West shore area on September 9th,  it will be during the West shore Advisory Council meeting. There are plans to conduct more outreach in the West shore area in the future.

-          IVT MedTrans: Mr. Guillen reported the following:

o   The service is running well.

o   There was a higher passenger count on the month of May because there were more service days available.

o   There have been a few instances where the 2nd bus had to be suspended, due to lack of passengers. The summer heat may be the cause of it.

·         Ms. Enz asked if there is a minimum ridership requirement to continue the route towards San Diego.

Ø  Mr. Guillen responded that there is no minimum requirement, even if the service has 1 person scheduled, it will go.

Ø  Mr. Aguirre added that there are instances where that person agrees to move on the earlier bus, therefore the 2nd bus will be suspended. That’s not the case all the time.

o   IVT MedTrans brochures have been handed out in the various San Diego medical facilities.

8.       General Discussion

-           Ms. Arambula announced that the San Diego Regional Center will have a 50th Anniversary celebration, which is an open house for their clients. The event is scheduled on October 23, 2019, from 11 am to 3 pm, located at the San Diego Regional Center, 512 W. Aten Rd., in Imperial city. (Flyer attached)

-          Ms. Garcia announced that the Imperial County IHSS Public Authority will be recruiting for homecare workers to become part of their registry. Applications will be accepted between September 30th through October 11th and can be submitted at the Imperial County IHSS Public Authority office located at 2995 S. 4th St., Suite 105, in El Centro. Ms. Garcia stated that references are required as part of application acceptance. Ms. Garcia asked if the Flyer provided can be posted on Facebook.

·         ICTC staff agreed to post it.

-          Mr. Aguirre added that MMP staff can coordinate to participate in the events by conducting a presentation and/or Training.

-          Ms. Chin asked what locations in Brawley can ticket be purchased.

·         Mr. Aguirre stated that the Brawley Library/City Hall. There are only certain tickets sold there, such as the fixed route and Gold line. ICTC will research what exact tickets are sold in that location.

-          Ms. Enz reported that no transit tickets have been sold at the Area Agency on Aging offices, it has been outreached in various ways.

·         Mr. Aguirre added that outreach can include Facebook post, informing security guards and bus drivers.

9.       Adjournment

-          The meeting adjourned at 11:23 a.m. (Ceasar), Motion Carried.

-          The next meeting will be held on October 2, 2019, at the Imperial County Transportation Commission Office, 1503 N. Imperial Ave., Suite 104, El Centro, CA 92243.